Wedding photography equipment checklist

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Wedding photography is a popular career choice for photographers of every skill level, from hobbyist to amateur to professional. Every wedding photographer possesses his or her own personal style and shooting method, so no two photographers have the exact same gear list- however, there are some essential items for doing the job. While the specifics of the brands and prices of the gear varies, the basic equipment remains the same.

1. DSLR Camera Body

   • The first piece of equipment necessary for wedding photography is a camera body. A DSLR, the type of cameras with interchangeable lenses, with enough megapixels to crop in and make prints at least up to 8-by-10 inches (larger is better) is ideal. You don't necessarily need the newest, most expensive camera on the market today, but don't go for the cheapest either. Find one that works well for you and for your budget. If you can't afford new, find a quality used body or rent the equipment for the job.

   Lenses

   • Most wedding photographers use a collection of lenses to cover a wide range of focal lengths. Wide angle lenses are great for large crowd shots, while a telephoto zoom zeros in on facial expressions to capture the emotion of the day. The faster the aperture available on a lens, also known as the f-stop, the less light the lens needs to take a picture. An f/2.8 lens provides a faster shutter speed in lower light than an f/4 or higher lens.

   Flash

   • A flash, used correctly, adds great fill light to brighten a scene, and utilizes a slightly slower lens. Some wedding venues and officiants don't allow flash use, so verify whether or not it's allowed before using it.

   Batteries and Memory Cards

   • A wedding photographer must always be on the move, and can't stop the event because of a full memory card or dead battery. Fully-charged extra batteries, and empty, pre-formatted memory cards are a must for any wedding photographer to capture the action as it happens with very little downtime.

   Photographic Knowledge

   • Although not a physical piece of equipment, one of the most important things to possess when becoming a wedding photographer is intensive knowledge of photography and how your equipment works. Expensive cameras and fast lenses do not compensate for bad photography skills, so know what you're doing before venturing into the world of wedding photography. Learn the basics and more. Experiment. Become obsessed with photography and improving your abilities. Never stop learning and striving to be better.

   Backup Equipment

   • Professional wedding photographers carry a backup for every piece of equipment they use, in case of equipment malfunction. At least one extra camera body, an array of lenses that can easily cover a broad range of focal lengths, and an extra flash should be in your wedding photography kit. There are no do-overs in wedding photography, and you must be prepared for any emergency and every situation.

Source: www.ehow.com

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